The Washington critic., 1887-12-24
THE COLONEL s TALE.

HhtntTtu uTOullu lne nTc lOlOncl lnOTn-
ton said: 'Jf you men are not too tired
and don't mind sitting up for another
half hour, think can tell you good
story
We protested that we were never less
tired and could sit up till morning, If
necessary. So the colonel began;
"My father, as you know, was par
son, but he took orders late in life, after
having been fifteen years ut the bar, and
the events of which am going TO tell
sou he himself told me as having come
directly under his eye when he was a
barristcr.
"It was at the Monmouth assizcs in
IS that case was tried which became
the talk of the ncighborhood and coun-
try for years after. NV father was sit
ting in the court of the assistant judge
when note was brought him from a
friend in the adjoining court; asking
him to come and hear case of more
than usual interest, the facts of which
were these
''Some time before farmers house
near Monmouth had been broken into
and robbed by men disguised and
masked, the farmer murdered and his
servant shockingly ill treated. Among
other things which were stolen were two
old-fashioned silver brooches curiously
inlaid with malachite, heirlooms of the
family, and although unremitting search
was made and the description of the lost
articles made widely known no trace of
the murderers could be found.
- month pr twp altar tho nIirdar
however, a police officer in going through
q common lodging-house in Bristol
noticed a dissipated looking sailor lying
on pallet and resting his head on a
small bundle. He asked him what it
contained, and was told that 1t was only
his kit The officer, not satisfied,
opened the bundle, and almost the first
thing to fall out were two brooches made
of silver and malachite. Struck by their
curious beauty, and wondering how such
wretched-looking fellow could have
become possessed Of them, he suddenly
remembered the advertisement and
description of the stolen articles.
"'How did you come by these?' he in
quired.
"The sailor replied: by chance.
When / came ashore some time ago
with plenty of money in my pocket, l
met an old seaman who was down ON his
luck, and he offered to sell me these
Things, which had belonged to his
mother. was pretty flush and gave
him good price for them, although
they were useless to me. And that's
all about it.
"rhe police officer, still dissatisfied,
took him into custody. He was sent ia
Monmouth Jail, the brooches were iden.
tilted and he was committed for trial at
the Assize on the charge of theft and
murder. And" continued the Colonel,
impressively, "as my father entered the
court this man was being placed in the
dock.
"Tall beyond the then average height
of men, and gaunt, with an unkempt
beard and evil yellow eye, ard though
evidently suffering from his long i'm
prisonment, he yet presented a power.
full and imposing front. The trial had
begun and he had just been asked the
usual question; Are you guilty or not
guilty.? and had answered in II hollow
voice: Not guilty, my lord, when the
entrance of one of the court officials with
a gentleman stopped the proceedings
for while. And here l must explain
this interruption.
"a few days before quiet, gentle
manly man, a Captain Forsyth Of His
Majesty's navy, had arrived at the chiei
hotel OF the town on fishing excursion,
but the weather had been so adverse
that he was obliged to look elsewhere
for amusement. Turning to the land
lord for information, he was told Of this
trial as exciting considerable interest
and SO it came TO pass that, as the pris
oner took his place at the bar, Captain
Forsyth sent his card to the Judge, wht
gladly allowed him, as was then the Gus
tom, a seat on the bench.
"rhe case proceeded witnesses wer,
called TO identify the brooches, the serv
ants swore to the figure Of the prisone
as resembling that Of the murderer
no witnesses We're called for the defens,
no one defended him; everythin,
pointed to his guilt, and the jury retired
to their room. In few minutes they
returned, and amid the breathless ex
pectation of the crowded court the fore
man announced their opinion that thu
man was Guilty.
Directly this word was uttered tn,
prisoner, who had been leaning as if fo
support against the side of the dock
raised himself to his full height
stretched out both his hands above hi
head, and, looking up, exclaimed in ,
broken voice, Not guilty, not guilty.
"The Judge then asked him, as wat
usual, if he had anything to say befor
sentence should be pronounced, and til,
prisoner cried hoarsely: Not guilty, my
lord, not guilty; before heaven and maj
am innocent of this crime. neve
set my eyes on the murdered man; dic
no murder. Oh! Captain, Captain.
In his vehemencc he addressed thu
Judge. as if he were his officer, Il am u
innocent of this crime as the babe un
born He paused, then suddenly, in
voice choking with feeling, he ex
claimed: Yes, yes; only one man cal
save me now; but he can do it, swea
what you may. The Lord be thanked
that man is here
"a buzz of astonishment ran roun
the court; the feeling of awe that ha
held the audience changed to one @
amazement
"'Point him out to me, said the Judge
""rhe man who can save me- replie
the prisoner, sits there beside you,
pointing to the astonished Captain For
syth.
"The Judge turned to Captain Forsyth
and said: This man appears to kno,
you. Is it the case?'
Certainly not he replied, mucl
surprised 4 never saw him before il
my life
"'oh, Captain broke in the prisoner
yes, you needn't start, | know you, Cap
tain Forsyth. You are never going /
swear away an innocent mans life lik
that?'
!" 1t is curious, my man. the Captai
replied, that you know my name; but
repeat that Inever saw you before II